ILOILO CITY — The provincial government will run on a P6.88-billion budget in 2026, a dramatic leap from this year’s P4.2 billion, after the Sangguniang Panlalawigan approved the spending plan on final reading Tuesday afternoon.

The appropriation allocates P5.53 billion for the General Fund and P1.35 billion for the Local Economic Enterprise, marking one of the biggest financial expansions in recent years.

Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. said the boosted budget is crafted to power the province’s flagship development agenda, MoRProGRes Iloilo, which aims to sharpen health and social services, stimulate economic growth, secure food systems, strengthen climate-resilient infrastructure, and fortify environmental protection.

“This is a developmental budget,” Defensor said in an interview Wednesday. “We tried, as much as we can, to fund significant infrastructure requirements and key programs. As a whole, we have the capacity for everything that we do here in the province.”

He also credited Vice Governor Nathalie Ann Debuque and the provincial board for the early passage of the spending plan, saying it allows the provincial government to “hit the ground running” once 2026 opens.

Under Appropriation Ordinance 2025-03, next year’s General Fund will be sourced from roughly P281.5 million in tax collections, P152.5 million in non-tax revenue, and Php5.09 billion in external sources. Meanwhile, the Local Economic Enterprise is expected to draw P683.6 million in non-tax income and P666.01 million in external funding.

With the new budget locked in, Iloilo positions itself for a year of elevated spending, heavier infrastructure rollout, and broader public services amid growing economic and climate demands.